Zoom lens drive system for lens shutter type of camera

Abstract

A zoom lens for a camera having a between-the-lens shutter includes a motor for moving the lens along an optical axis in forward and rearward directions. A switch is operable by an operator to control operation of the motor for moving the lens from an initial position on the axis to a final stationary position that establishes the focal length of the lens. Control apparatus is responsive to the setting of the switch for operating the motor such that movement of the lens from its initial position to its final position always ends after the lens travels to its final position in a predetermined direction.

We claim: 
     
       1. A zoom lens camera having a photographic lens barrel which is movable along an optical axis direction, in association with zooming movement of a zoom lens movable along said axis within a predetermined photographic range, said camera comprising: means for retracting said photographic lens barrel, from an extreme rearward position at one end of said predetermined photographic range, into a retracted position;   a motor and a driving ring driven by said motor, said driving ring having a center of rotation which is coincident with said optical axis; and   means for driving said lens barrel, both within said predetermined photographic range, and between said extreme rearward position at said one end of said predetermined photographic range, and said retracted position, by rotating said driving ring, said retracted position comprising a collapsed lens position in which no photograph can be taken.   
     
     
       2. The zoom lens camera according to claim 1, further comprising means for projecting said photographic lens barrel from an extreme position at an other end of said range into a macrophotographic position. 
     
     
       3. The zoom lens camera according to claim 1, said camera having a finder, said finder having a finder optical axis, the finder optical axis being spaced from the optical axis of said photographic lens barrel. 
     
     
       4. The zoom lens camera according to claim 1, said driving ring comprising at least one groove and a toothed gear section. 
     
     
       5. The zoom lens camera according to claim 1, said driving ring further comprising a code plate. 
     
     
       6. The zoom lens camera according to claim 1, further including means for preventing said motor from stopping driving when said lens barrel is positioned between said rearward position and said retracted position. 
     
     
       7. A zoom lens camera having a finder optical assembly and a photographic optical assembly including a movable zoom lens system having a plurality of lenses, said finder optical assembly and said photographic optical assembly having different optical axes, said camera comprising: a motor and a drive assembly, driven by said motor, for moving said photographic optical system within a zooming photographic range in which the focal length of the lenses in said zoom lens system will vary, and for moving said photographic optical assembly between a position at one end of said zooming photographic range, and a collapsed position in which said zoom lens is located rearwardly of said zooming photographic range;   a code plate having at least one area for obtaining focal length information relating to the focal length position of said photographic optical system, said at least one area including a detecting portion comprising means for determining that said photographic optical system is positioned between said collapsed position and said one end of said zooming photographic range; and   means for preventing said motor from stopping driving of said drive assembly when said photographic optical system is determined to be positioned between said collapsed position and said one end of said zooming photographic range.   
     
     
       8. The zoom lens camera according to claim 7, said collapsed position comprising a position at which no photograph can be taken. 
     
     
       9. The zoom lens camera according to claim 7, said drive assembly comprising a driving ring having an axis coincident with the optical axis of said photographic optical assembly. 
     
     
       10. The zoom lens camera according to claim 7, said drive assembly comprising a driving ring, said code plate being positioned on said driving ring.